Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An image analysis apparatus for determining a normalized mean axis of rotation (MAR) of a cervical spine of a patient using a flexion medical image and an extension medical image of each of cervical spine vertebrae two to seven (C2 to C7), the apparatus comprising: an image output device that is a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) viewer configured to display the flexion medical image and the extension medical image; a pointing device configured to trace a margin of each of C2 to C7 vertebrae of the cervical spine as a continuous line; a processor, the processor in electronic communication with the pointing device; and a memory; the memory including instructions for the processor: to provide a flexion trace and an extension trace of C2 to C7 vertebrae by detecting a start position, drawing a line concurrently as the pointing device follows the margin from the start position to a finish position and to detect the finish position; to superimpose the flexion trace of a selected vertebra on the extension trace of the selected vertebra; to allow a user to remove or correct an error in a trace; to determine the MAR; and to normalize the MAR.
An image analysis system determines a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) for a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7) using flexion and extension medical images. It includes a DICOM viewer to display these images, and a pointing device (e.g., mouse, stylus) for a user to trace the margin of each vertebra as a continuous line. A processor, connected to the pointing device and memory, executes instructions. These instructions guide the system to: generate flexion and extension traces by recording the start, user-drawn path along the margin, and end points; superimpose corresponding flexion and extension traces; enable users to correct or remove errors in a trace; calculate the MAR; and then normalize the calculated MAR.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pointing device is a mouse to allow the user to click at the start position, drag along the margin of the vertebrae and release at the finish position to define each trace.
This image analysis system determines a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) for a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7) using flexion and extension medical images. It features a DICOM viewer to display images, and a pointing device specifically designed as a mouse. The user interacts with this mouse by clicking to mark a trace's start position, dragging along the vertebra's margin, and releasing to signify the finish position, thus defining each trace. A processor, connected to the mouse and memory, executes instructions to: generate flexion and extension traces; superimpose corresponding traces; allow users to correct errors; calculate the MAR; and normalize it.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a screen in electronic communication with the processor, for displaying each trace.
This image analysis system determines a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) for a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7) using flexion and extension medical images. It features a DICOM viewer to display images, and a pointing device which is a mouse, enabling the user to click at a start position, drag along the vertebra's margin, and release at a finish position to define each trace. Additionally, the system includes a screen, electronically connected to the processor, which displays each generated trace. The processor, connected to the mouse and memory, executes instructions to: generate flexion and extension traces; superimpose corresponding traces; allow users to correct errors; calculate the MAR; and normalize it.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the image display device is a touch screen and the pointing device is a pressure exerting device.
An image analysis system determines a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) for a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7) using flexion and extension medical images. Instead of a separate display and pointing device, this system uses a touch screen as its image display device. The touch screen also functions as the pointing device through a pressure-exerting mechanism (e.g., a stylus or finger) configured to trace a vertebra's margin as a continuous line. A processor, connected to this touch screen and memory, executes instructions. These instructions guide the system to: generate flexion and extension traces by detecting start, user-drawn path, and end points; superimpose corresponding traces; enable users to correct or remove errors in a trace; calculate the MAR; and then normalize the calculated MAR.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the memory is configured to instruct the processor to remove an erroneous segment of a trace in response to the user selecting the erroneous segment with the pointing device.
This image analysis system determines a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) for a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7) using flexion and extension medical images. It features a touch screen acting as both the display and a pressure-exerting pointing device (e.g., stylus or finger) for tracing vertebral margins. A processor, connected to the touch screen and memory, executes instructions. These instructions guide the system to: generate flexion and extension traces by recording user-drawn paths; superimpose corresponding traces; enable users to correct errors; calculate the MAR; and normalize it. Specifically, the memory instructs the processor to remove an erroneous segment of a trace when the user selects that segment directly on the touch screen using the pressure-exerting pointing device.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the memory is configured to instruct the processor to replace the erroneous segment of the trace in response to the user drawing a correct line with the pointing device.
This image analysis system determines a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) for a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7) using flexion and extension medical images. It includes a touch screen functioning as both the display and a pressure-exerting pointing device (e.g., stylus or finger) for tracing vertebral margins. A processor, connected to the touch screen and memory, executes instructions. These instructions guide the system to: generate flexion and extension traces; superimpose corresponding traces; enable users to correct errors; calculate the MAR; and normalize it. The memory specifically instructs the processor to remove an erroneous trace segment upon user selection with the pressure-exerting pointing device. Furthermore, it instructs the processor to replace that erroneous segment when the user draws a correct line using the same pressure-exerting pointing device.
7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for determining a normalized mean axis of rotation (MAR) of a cervical spine in a patient, having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor to perform steps of providing a flexion trace and an extension trace on a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) viewer of each of cervical spine vertebrae C2 to C7 by detecting a start position, drawing a continuous line concurrently as the pointing device follows the margin from the start position to a finish position and detecting the finish position; superimposing the flexion trace on the extension trace; providing for a user to correct an error in a trace; determining a MAR datum; and normalizing the MAR datum.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium contains instructions for a processor to determine a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) of a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7). These instructions enable the processor to: display flexion and extension medical images on a DICOM viewer; facilitate providing flexion and extension traces of each C2 to C7 vertebra, where a pointing device detects a start position, draws a continuous line as it follows the vertebra's margin, and detects a finish position; superimpose the flexion trace onto the extension trace; allow a user to correct any errors within a trace; determine a MAR datum; and finally, normalize that MAR datum.
8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , further comprising instructions for prompting a user to define the trace.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium contains instructions for a processor to determine a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) of a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7). These instructions enable the processor to: display flexion and extension medical images on a DICOM viewer; facilitate providing flexion and extension traces of each C2 to C7 vertebra using a pointing device to define start, margin-following, and finish positions; superimpose the flexion trace onto the extension trace; allow a user to correct any errors within a trace; determine a MAR datum; and normalize that MAR datum. Additionally, the medium includes instructions to prompt the user to define these traces.
9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , further comprising instructions for prompting the user to rotate the vertebra prior to normalizing the MAR.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium contains instructions for a processor to determine a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) of a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7). These instructions enable the processor to: display flexion and extension medical images on a DICOM viewer; facilitate providing flexion and extension traces of each C2 to C7 vertebra using a pointing device to define start, margin-following, and finish positions; superimpose the flexion trace onto the extension trace; allow a user to correct any errors within a trace; determine a MAR datum; and normalize that MAR datum. The medium further includes instructions to prompt the user to define these traces and to prompt the user to rotate the vertebra before the MAR is normalized.
10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , further comprising instructions to remove an erroneous segment of a trace in response to the user selecting the erroneous segment with the pointing device.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium contains instructions for a processor to determine a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) of a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7). These instructions enable the processor to: display flexion and extension medical images on a DICOM viewer; facilitate providing flexion and extension traces of each C2 to C7 vertebra using a pointing device; superimpose the flexion trace onto the extension trace; allow a user to correct any errors within a trace; determine a MAR datum; and normalize that MAR datum. The medium also includes instructions to prompt the user to define these traces, to prompt the user to rotate the vertebra before normalization, and specifically, to remove an erroneous segment of a trace if the user selects that segment with the pointing device.
11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , further comprising instructions to replace the erroneous segment of the trace in response to the user drawing a correct line with the pointing device.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium contains instructions for a processor to determine a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) of a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7). These instructions enable the processor to: display flexion and extension medical images on a DICOM viewer; facilitate providing flexion and extension traces of each C2 to C7 vertebra using a pointing device; superimpose the flexion trace onto the extension trace; allow a user to correct any errors within a trace; determine a MAR datum; and normalize that MAR datum. The medium further includes instructions to prompt the user to define these traces, to prompt the user to rotate the vertebra before normalization, to remove an erroneous trace segment upon user selection, and to replace it when the user draws a correct line using the pointing device.
12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising look up tables for determining a standard range of MAR data.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium contains instructions for a processor to determine a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) of a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7). These instructions enable the processor to: display flexion and extension medical images on a DICOM viewer; facilitate providing flexion and extension traces of each C2 to C7 vertebra using a pointing device; superimpose the flexion trace onto the extension trace; allow a user to correct any errors within a trace; determine a MAR datum; and normalize that MAR datum. The medium also includes instructions to prompt the user to define these traces, to prompt the user to rotate the vertebra before normalization, to remove an erroneous trace segment upon user selection, and to replace it when the user draws a correct line. Furthermore, the medium includes look-up tables to determine a standard range of MAR data.
13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , further comprising instructions for judging whether or not the MAR datum falls within the standard range.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium contains instructions for a processor to determine a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) of a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7). These instructions enable the processor to: display flexion and extension medical images on a DICOM viewer; facilitate providing flexion and extension traces of each C2 to C7 vertebra using a pointing device; superimpose the flexion trace onto the extension trace; allow a user to correct any errors within a trace; determine a MAR datum; and normalize that MAR datum. The medium also includes instructions to prompt the user to define traces, rotate the vertebra before normalization, remove erroneous trace segments upon selection, and replace them with correct lines. It further includes look-up tables for a standard MAR data range, and instructions for judging if the calculated MAR datum falls within this standard range.
14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , further comprising instructions for storing the datum as a double precision number.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium contains instructions for a processor to determine a normalized Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) of a patient's cervical spine (C2 to C7). These instructions enable the processor to: display flexion and extension medical images on a DICOM viewer; facilitate providing flexion and extension traces of each C2 to C7 vertebra using a pointing device; superimpose the flexion trace onto the extension trace; allow a user to correct any errors within a trace; determine a MAR datum; and normalize that MAR datum. The medium also includes instructions to prompt the user to define traces, rotate the vertebra before normalization, remove erroneous trace segments upon selection, replace them with correct lines, use look-up tables for standard MAR data ranges, and judge if the MAR datum falls within the standard range. Finally, it includes instructions for storing the MAR datum as a double precision number.
15. A semi-automated method of determining a MAR (mean axis of rotation) of a subject, using a flexion medical image and an extension medical image displayed on a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) viewer of each of cervical spine vertebrae C2 to C7, the method comprising: a user locating a pointing device on a start position of a selected image and moving the pointing device from the start position to a finish position in a continuous, single action along a margin of the vertebra and concomitantly, a processor drawing a continuous line between the start position and the finish position; repeating the step to provide a flexion trace and an extension trace of each of cervical spine vertebrae C2 to C7; superimposing the flexion trace on the extension trace; determining a MAR datum; and normalizing the MAR datum.
A semi-automated method determines the Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) of a subject's cervical spine (C2 to C7) using flexion and extension medical images displayed on a DICOM viewer. The method involves a user placing a pointing device on a start position of a selected vertebra image, then moving the device continuously along the vertebra's margin to a finish position. Concurrently, a processor draws a continuous line between these points. This process is repeated for each C2-C7 vertebra to create both flexion and extension traces. Once traces are complete, the flexion trace is superimposed onto the extension trace. The method then proceeds to determine a MAR datum and subsequently normalize that MAR datum.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the user correcting an error in a trace.
A semi-automated method determines the Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) of a subject's cervical spine (C2 to C7) using flexion and extension medical images displayed on a DICOM viewer. The method involves a user placing a pointing device on a start position of a selected vertebra image, then moving the device continuously along the vertebra's margin to a finish position, while a processor draws a continuous line. This process is repeated for each C2-C7 vertebra to create both flexion and extension traces. The flexion trace is superimposed onto the extension trace. A MAR datum is determined and normalized. Additionally, the method includes the step of the user correcting an error in any of the generated traces.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein correcting includes the user selecting an erroneous segment of a trace with the pointing device and the processor removing the erroneous segment.
A semi-automated method determines the Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) of a subject's cervical spine (C2 to C7) using flexion and extension medical images displayed on a DICOM viewer. The method involves a user placing a pointing device on a start position of a selected vertebra image, then moving the device continuously along the vertebra's margin to a finish position, while a processor draws a continuous line. This process is repeated for each C2-C7 vertebra to create both flexion and extension traces. The flexion trace is superimposed onto the extension trace. A MAR datum is determined and normalized. The method also includes the user correcting an error in a trace, where this correction involves the user selecting an erroneous segment of a trace with the pointing device, and the processor then removing that erroneous segment.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein correcting includes the user drawing a correct line with the pointing device and the processor replacing the erroneous segment.
A semi-automated method determines the Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) of a subject's cervical spine (C2 to C7) using flexion and extension medical images displayed on a DICOM viewer. The method involves a user placing a pointing device on a start position of a selected vertebra image, then moving the device continuously along the vertebra's margin to a finish position, while a processor draws a continuous line. This process is repeated for each C2-C7 vertebra to create both flexion and extension traces. The flexion trace is superimposed onto the extension trace. A MAR datum is determined and normalized. The method includes the user correcting an error in a trace, which involves the user selecting an erroneous segment for processor removal. Furthermore, this correction also includes the user drawing a correct line with the pointing device, which prompts the processor to replace the previously erroneous segment with the newly drawn line.
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August 4, 2020
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